Thursday, December 4, 2008

CNN is broadcasting a genocide documentary called "Scream Bloody Murder", TONIGHT December 4th @ 9pm. The CNN Presents Special hosted by Christine Amanpour includes interviews with survivors of Genocide. It will highlight the courageous individuals that tried to raise the alarm on the Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda, Iraq's gassing of the Kurds, and Bosnia/Croatia. A French priest in Cambodia. An idealistic U.S. Senate staffer in Iraq. A Canadian general in Rwanda. Each one tried to focus the world's attention on genocide. Each time, they were shunned, ignored or told it was someone else's problem.

Throughout history genocide has plagued different parts of the globe sometimes with little attention or aid being paid to the cries for help. Today as I write this genocide is alive and ravaging Darfur. For six long years hundreds of thousands of people have been killed.

Genocide - any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnically, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; [and] forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

As many as 400,000 innocent people have been killed and more than 2.5 million more have been driven from their homes. These refugees now face starvation, disease, and rape, while those who remain in Darfur risk torture, death, and displacement.

Be part of the solution learn more about genocide and how you can help starting with this documentary. And then something as easy as signing an online petition is a good start in seeing this brutality stopped.

As a mom I know how going to get Santa pictures can be stressful. First off you have to find a cute outfit, then get them to wear it. You have to fight holiday traffic and crowds only to stand in line for god knows how long. You talk the little suckers up the whole time about how great it's going to be to see Santa, sit on his lap, tell him all the super cool things you want him to bring you. Finally you get to the hopefully decent looking Santa pay your bajillion dollars and cross your fingers that little Susie will at least look at the camera and if your really lucky the rugrat might flash a smile. Sounds like a great afternoon to me ;)

Now imagine your the kid, you sense your parents stress, mixed with that familiar hope that you will behave. You've been hearing all about this rockin santa guy that magically gives you all your hearts desires. Your stuck wearing this stupid tie or god forbid hat and expected to be patient in a line that's taking FOREVER. This better be good! After a million years it's your turn and you see this...

"He's huge and hairy and hulking. He dresses in strange furry clothing. He sneaks into people's homes at night.Who wouldn't be afraid of . . . Santa Claus?!? "

Your eyes are huge, your mom's repeatedly telling you to smile, you got some chick squeaking an Elmo at you while trying to tickle you with some weird dusty thing, Santa smells like cheese or even worse old spice and after 2 minutes of terror all you get is a stupid candy cane and the hope that Santa heard you when you said you wanted a red ryderBB gun (fingers crossed)!

I cry LAME and so do all these little punkin heads...

Poor Babies!

"Nothing says Christmas like innocent children shrieking with terror as a hulking red stranger drags them onto his lap."

"Now this time-honored rite of passage is celebrated with a hilarious collection of more than two hundred and fifty priceless photos of kids' traumatic trips to Santa's workshop. Scared of Santa offers a cornucopia of photographic funnies - from sixty-year-old family heirlooms to last year's howlers-along with delightful commentary on those unforgettable childhood visits to scary ol' Saint Nick."

Funny stuff... You can buy the book at Barnes and Noble or just skim through it next time your there. And either laugh hysterically or feel sorry for all the traumatized youths on the pages.

Monday, December 1, 2008

I'm a little late on the official ribbon cutting for the holiday season which as of today is in full gear. How many of you went holiday crazy this weekend? I didn't do much shopping but we did bust out the tree, start the decorating and cranked up the holiday tunes! So far this year I'm feeling good about the holiday season, it's not over saturated (yet) and with the economy being as it is there has been less emphasis on all the wants with more attention being paid to cutting back and giving back. Speaking of giving back .... ;)

Today is the 20th annual World Aids Day, a day in which special attention is paid to the global aids epidemic. Day's like this are extremely important in bringing home awareness to issues and causes that may be overlooked throughout the year. Everyone knows about HIV & Aids, everyone knows Bono, everyone has seen (RED) products but how often on a daily basis do we think about the more than 25 million people that have died of AIDS since 1981 or the 33.0 million people currently living with this disease, half of which are children? This day brings those people to the fore front of our minds!

A lot of times when things don't directly involve us people tend to be removed from the issue and have a ho hum attitude towards what their personal role can be in it. You may not have a ton of money to donate or time to spend to this or any cause but there is always something that you personally can and should do to help.

Something as simple as just spreading the word does wonders to keep up awareness and social consciousness, tell a friend, blog about it, add a badge to your website or other site. Above that you could donate to a variety or organizations like these Avert, AIDS Alliance, World Vision or find your own at Charity Navigator.

If your a shopper... check out the awesome products at Join Red, create your own Converse, buy a t-shirt at the gap, or soothe your crusty lips with Kiehls lip balm, send a greeting from Hallmark, ( I use the Hallmark thank you cards and used (RED) gift wrap during my launch party and in other applications around the house) These and many other product's all donate a portion of their sales to AIDS research or aid. If your buying anyway why not buy socially conscious products?